Army Pfc. Markie T. Sims, 20, died December 29 in Panjwal, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device, according to the Department of Defense.
Sims grew up in Florida, where television station WOGX-TV reports Sims's wife, Shakeli Boone, is pregnant with their first child. The couple had already decided on a name, Kayden, for the little boy.
Sims was assigned to the 38th Engineer Company, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, under control of the 7th Infantry Division at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state.
